Electric switch

ABSTRACT

An electrical switch arranged to be mounted on the rear wall of a switch box and having a base open at the front and rear with a partition wall between the front and rear. A blade-operating rotor is installable in the base from the rear and held in operating position behind the partition wall initially by a snap spring detent to facilitate installation of the base on the rear wall. Once installed, a flange on the rotor cooperates with the rear wall to retain the rotor in operating position should the spring fail. The load and line connectors are mounted on the front face of the partition wall for ready access when the front of the switch box is open. The switch blades and companion stationary contact jaws are carried by the base at the rear of the partition wall, and are drivingly engaged by the rotor. The blades are arranged relative to the contact jaws, rotor, and base so as to provide a wider contact separation upon opening of the switch than is usual in switches of comparable size.

United States Patent inventor Appl. No. Filed Patented Assignee ELECTRIC SWITCH 10 Claims, 11 Drawing Figs.

US. Cl

Int. Cl

Tillson Cellerini et a1.

Lohmeyer Rys et a1,

Field of Search Primary Examiner-ll. 0. Jones Atlorneys John H. Leonard and Harold J. Rathbun ABSTRACT: An electrical switch arranged to be mounted on the rear wall of a switch box and having a base open at the front and rear with a partition wall between the front and rear. A blade-operating rotor is installable in the base from the rear and held in operating position behind the partition wall initially by a snap spring detent to facilitate installation of the base on the rear wall. Once installed, a flange on the rotor cooperates with the rear wall to retain the rotor in operating position should the spring fail.

The load and line connectors are mounted on the front face of the partition wall for ready access when the front of the switch box is open.

The switch blades and companion stationary contact jaws are carried by the base at the rear of the partition wall, and are drivingly engaged by the rotor. The blades are arranged relative to the contact jaws, rotor, and base so as to provide a wider contact separation upon opening of the switch than is usual in switches of comparable size.

PATENTEDJUNZQISH 3,590,200

sum 1 OF 4 I5 I I7 INVENTOR.

M 0 BY 74/ 3 ATTORNEY.

PATENTEUJUNZSIBH 3590.200

SHEET 2 [1F 4 W a up in WT EJLYW 270 n 29 27d A T INVENTOR. 30 J G BY My U ATTORNEY.

PATENTEDJUNZSISH 3590.200

L INVENTOR.

BYYM 0Q Q ATTORNEY.

PATENTEUJUNZQISYI 3.590.200

SHEET u [If 4 INVENTOR.

070A BY "w ATTORNEY.

ELECTRIC SWITCH This invention relates to an electrical switch, and particularly to an electrical switch which is arranged to be mounted on the forward face of the rear wall of an open-front switch box having a hinged cover and which is provided with an operating handle arranged to be operated by a snap-acting switch-operating mechanism mounted within the box, such. for example, as described in US. Pat. of T. .I. Rys et al., No. 3,240,888,issued Mar. I5, 1966.

As described in the above-identified patent, a switch is mounted in the box with the rear of the switch base against the rear wall of the box. The switch is operated by snap-acting mechanism in the box which is connected to the operating handle on the switch and which, in turn, is operated by a manually operable switch handle accessible from the exterior of the box.

The switch box and the snap-acting mechanism, and the exterior operating handle of the patent form no part of the present invention which has to do with an improvement in the switch itself.

One of the principal advantages of the present invention resides in the structure of the switch base and the rotor for operating the switch blades, and the manner in which the rotor, switch blades, contact jaws, and terminal connectors are mounted in the base.

Specifically, an advantage resides in the correlation between the rotor and base whereby the rotor can be mounted in the base through the open rear thereof and held in mounted position initially by a suitable snapfastening spring,. and, secondarily, by the supporting or rear wall of the box on which the switch is mounted.

Other novel features reside in the manner in which the rotor engages the movable blades for moving them to and from contact-making position; the arrangement of the terminal connectors and fuse connections so that they are readily accessible for servicing through the open front of the switch base; and the manner in which the stationary contact jaws for the blades are deeply recessed into the base structure so as to permit a very wide separation of the blades from the jaws upon opening of the switch than has heretofore been possible in a switch of comparable size and depth.

Various other objects and advantages will become apparent from the following description wherein reference is made to the drawings, in which:

FIG. 1 is a front elevation of the switch of the present invention showing the blades in closed position and fuses removed;

FIG. 2 is a bottom plan view of the switch illustrated in FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is a right end elevation of the switch illustrated in FIG. I, part being shown in section, as indicated by the line 3-3 in FIG. 1;

FIG. 4 is a horizontal sectional view taken on the line 4-4 of FIG. 1;

FIG. 5 is a rear elevation of the switch illustrated in FIG. 1;

FIG. 6 is a fragmentary sectional view taken on the line 6-6 of FIG. 1;

FIG. 7 is a right side elevation of the structure illustrated in FIG. 6;

FIG. 8 is a fragmentary sectional view of the fuse connector and blade-supporting arms, and a portion of the blade of the switch, and is taken on the lines 8-8 in FIG. 1;

FIG. 9 is a rear view of the blade-operating rotor switch;

FIG. 10 is a right side elevation thereof; and

FIG. 11 is a fragmentary sectional view of the rotor taken on the line 11-11 of FIG. 9.

Referring to the drawings, the switch comprises a one-piece molded base, indicated generally at l, composed of insulating material and having sidewalls 2 and 3, respectively, a bottom wall 4, and top wall 5. The base is open at the front and rear, but has a partition wall 6 disposed intermediate of, and spaced from, the front and rear of the base.

of the Mounted on the front of the partition wall and secured thereto by suitable screws are a number of load terminal connectors, each indicated generally at 10. These connectors are preferably of the type disclosed in the copending application of Rolf I-I. Kindler, filed Sept. 22, I969, Ser. No. 859,696, and entitled One Piece Fuse Clip and Load Side Terminal Strap." Each connector 10 has a U-shaped body 11, of strap metal, which is open forwardly of the base and also, edgewise, toward the bottom of the base for receiving an electrical conductor. Each body carries a detachable lug nut 12 for securing the conductor in place. Each body LI is connected to integral extensions of a fuse clip 13, which has spaced arms 14 adapted to grip therebetween the cylindrical end of a fuse with resilient snap-fastening engagement.

Power terminal connectors 15, as best shown in FIG. 6, are provided. Each comprises a U-shaped connecting body 16, similar to the body 11, a lug nut 17, and binding screw 18 for connection to an electrical conductor. The body 16 is electrically connected at its bottom to one end portion of a conducting strap 19 which, at its other end portion, is provided with integral clamping contact jaws 20 between which a'switch blade is receivable when the blade is moved to on or closed position. The one end portion of the strap 19 is disposed in, and is juxtaposed against the forward face of the base of, the body 16, and is secured to the switch base 1 by a screw 21 which thereby clamp the body 16 in place.

A detachable barrier strip 22 of insulating material is secured on the strap 19, and extends from the front of the switch rearwardly past the connector 16 and substantially to the rear of the jaws 20. The jaws 20 are of such length and so positioned relative to the one end portion of the strap 19 that when the body 16 and said one end portion of the strap 19 are fastened firmly against the forward face of the partition wall, the jaws 20 are disposed with their forwardly open bladereceiving throat closer to the rear of the base than is the partition wall 6.

Intermediate baffle walls 23 are disposed at opposite sides of the power terminal connectors 15. Sockets 24 are provided in the base behind the partition wall 6 and accommodate sets of jaws 20, respectively, these sockets being open forwardly and also downwardly of the base to afford access of the switch blades thereto.

Correspondingly suitable intermediate partition walls 25 are provided between adjacent load terminal connectors 10, including their associated fuse clips 13. Mounted on the partition wall 6 is a row of forwardly open fuse clips 27 complementary to the clips 13, as best shown in FIGS. 1, 4, and 8. Each clip 27 has arms 27a between which the cylindrical upper end of the fuse can be snap-fastened from the front of the base. One of the arms 27a has a laterally extending portion 27b forming a conducting base through which a screw 28 is received for securing the clip in firm juxtaposition with the forward face of the partition wall 6, and has a rearwardly ex tending portion 270 which extends rearwardly from the portion 27b through a suitable passage 29 in the partition wall 6. The other arm 27a also has a rearwardly extending portion 27d, the portions 270 and 27d being disposed in face-to-face spaced relation to each other.

Mounted between the portions 270 and 27d is a switch blade 30. The blade 30 is secured between the portions by a suitable pivot 31.

The fuse clips 13 and 27 form part of the connection between the associated load terminal connectors 10 and the blades 30 and are positioned on the base so that the blades are aligned properly with the throats between the associated jaws 20 for engagement therewith upon swinging of the blades to closed positions.

With the structure thus described, ready access is afforded from the front of the base for connecting conductors to the terminal connectors and for installing fuses in the circuit. The bottom and top walls have suitable passages therethrough, such as those shown in the bottom wall at 32in FIG. 2, so that the conductors can be brought into the switch terminal connectors from the top and bottom in front of the partition wall;

in order to provide a switch having such accessibility, and with the jaws deeply recessed in the base, a problem is presented in connecting the blade-operating rotor to the base and blades. As best illustrated in FIG. 8, each blade is rotatable about its pivot 31 so as to swing in a plane normal to the general plane of the base and in a direction forwardly and rearwardly of the base. Each blade 30 has a contact-making portion 33, the outermost end of which is receivable between the associated jaws 20 in the closed position of the blade. At the opposite side of its pivot, each blade 30 is provided with an abutment portion 34 which is positioned, as will later be described, so as to be engaged by cooperating abutment means on the blade-operating rotor 35 of the switch.

To provide for the accessibility, wide separation of the blades and jaws, and deep recessing of the jaws 20, the base is constructed so that the rotor 35 can be installed from the rear of the base.

As best illustrated in FIG. 9, the rotor 35 comprises a semicylindrical body 36 having at one end a trunnion 37 and at the opposite end a coaxial trunnion 38. The rotor is rockable about the trunnions for making and breaking contact when in its installed position. Carried by the trunnion 38 is a crank or operating handle 39 adapted for operation by the snap-acting switch-operating means in the switch box. The sidewall 2 of the base has a socket 40 which opens inwardly of the base toward the sidewall 3 and is spaced from the sidewall 3. The sidewall 3 is provided with a notch 41 which is open at the rear edge of the sidewall 3 and extends forwardly to a point spaced just rcarwardly from the partition wall 6. The inner end of the notch 41 is semicircular. the semicircular portion being defined by a cut edge of the sidewall 3 and providing a bear ing, indicated at 42, extending through the sidewall, for accommodating the trunnion 38, Thus the notch 41 and the bearing 42 extend entirely through the sidewall 3 from the inside to the outside thereof, and the notch tl opens to the rear of the base through the rear edge of the wall 3.

In order to install the rotor 35 i the base, the trunnion 37 is first slid partly into the socket 40 and the rotor is then swung forwardly about the trunnion 37 so that the trunnion 38 passes into the notch 41 and seats in the bottom thereof on the bearing edge at 42. The rotor trunnion being thus installed, the handle 39 is disposed at the exterior of the sidewall 3.

in order to hold the rotor in place, the trunnion 38 is providcd with a chordal slot 43; for receiving the detent of a snapfastcner 45, The snap-fastener 45 comprises a Stiff spring wire having a portion 46 which, in the installed position, bridges across the notch 41 and between its ends engages in the slot 43 of the trunnion 38 so that the trunnion cannot be moved rearwardly out of the notch 41. The snap fastener is also provided atone end with snap-fastening detent 47,

in order to connect the snap fastener to the sidewall 3 in the proper position, the sidewall 3 is provided with bosses 48 which have notches at their forward edges opening forwardly of the base and extending endwise in a direction from top to bottom of the frame. These notches receive the portion 46 of the snap fastener. The wall 3 has an additional boss 49 which is spaced from one of the bosses 48 and has a notch 50 which opens endwise forwardly of the base, and sidewise toward the bosses 48. Wi h the snap fast ne in pla th detent 47 n be snapped into engagement with the notch in the boss 49 and thus resiliently urge the detent axially away from the boss 49 so that the detent is in snug resilient press-fitted engagement against the boss 49 and the adjacent boss 48.

In order to assure that the rotor 35 cannot be moved rearwardly from its properly installed position once the switch is juxtaposed against the supporting wall of the switch box, the rotor is provided with a radial flange 51. The flange 51 is of a circumferential extent such that its periphery is exposed toward th rear of the base 1 in all operating positions of the rotor 35. The flange is of such extent relative to the axis of rotation of the rot r that wh n a s pp ing wall i j ap in face=to=face relation to the rear of the base 3, the periphery of the flange is dispo e so l e o t re r wal f he witch box as to have only operating lea n e wi h sp ct her o Thus, if the snap fastener should become detached, nevertheless the rotor would be held in proper position for rotation about theaxis of its trunnions by the flange 51 engaging the rear wall of the switch box.

The trunnions 37 and 38 of the rotor, in the operating positions of the rotor, have their axes substantially coincident of the axes of the pivots 31 of the'blades. The peripheral wall of the rotor is substantially coextensive peripherally with the flange 51 so that the rotor is open at the side facing toward the blades. On the inner face of the peripheral wall, the rotor is provided with notches 52 which are formed by raised ribs 53. These notches extend chordally of the peripheral wall of the rotor 35 and are so arranged that one end of each notch is engageable with the portion 33 of its associated blade and the other end of each notch is engageable with the portion 34 of its associated blade. The blades are connected to the rotor by these notches with a certain amount of lost motion. Thus upon rotation of the rotor 35 in one direction it engages the portions 33 of the blades concurrently and swings the blades to closed position as the rotor is moved to final position. The rotation of the rotor 35 in the opposite direction causes these ends to disengage the portions 33 and the opposite ends of the notches to engage portions 34 of the blades and thus move the blades concurrently to open position.

The handle 39 is positioned so that it can be readily operated by a snap-action operator carried in the switch box, as in the above patent. The switch thus provided isreadily accessible for connection and disconnection to external conductors. It is readily fusible and defusible.

The partition wall is provided with openings 54 through which bolts can be passes for bolting the base to the forward face of the bottom wall of the switch box or other supporting wall structure.

The switch shown for illustration is a four-pole, solidneutral switch, utilizing three fusible poles and one solidneutral ole strap 55, and an electrical connector for connection thereto of a neutral wire of a four-wire, three-phase source of power, but it is apparent that the invention may be embodied in other types of switches.

Having thus described my invention, 1 claim:

1. In an electric switch,

a base;

a plurality of contact making and breaking units carried thereby;

each unit including a stationary contact, a complementary switch blade, and connectors for the contact and blade, respectively;

said base being open at the front and the connectors being accessible through said open front for connection to com ductors;

said base being open at the rear and adapted for connection to a supporting wall with the wall in closing relation to said rear;

a blade-operating rotor receivable into the base through said open rear and having coaxial trunnions at its opposite ends;

said base having a bearing socket opening inwardly transversely of the base and rotatably supporting one of the trunnions;

said base having a sidewall spaced from said socket and having a notch therein;

bearing means on Said wall and including a bearing passage;

said notch and passage extending laterally of the sidewall entirely through the sidewall from the interior of the base to the exterior thereof;

said notch extending from the bearing passage rearwardly of the base and being open through the rear edge of the sidewall and affording access of the other trunnion to said bearing pa age upon movement of said other trunnion g nerally orwardly of the base in the notch when said one trunnion is in said bearing socket;

i aring means rotatably supporting the other of said runnions in oaxial relation with said one trunnion;

an operating handle connected to said other of the trunnions and having a hub coaxial therewith, said handle disposed exteriorly of, and alongside, said sidewall; and

means drivingly connecting the blades of all said units and the rotor for movement of the blades to open and closed positions, respectively, concurrently, upon rocking of the rotor in opposite directions, respectively, to predetermined positions.

2. The structure according to claim 1 wherein said rotor has a radial flange positioned within the base and of a radial extent to lie close to the rear of the base so as to engage a supporting wall closing said rear of the base thereby preventing removal of said other trunnion from the bearing means when the supporting wall is in place.

3. The structure according to claim 1 wherein a fastening member is provided, attaching means on the exterior of the wall detachably engage the fastening member and hold it in bridging relation to the notch in rearwardly spaced relation to the bearing means, and in constraining relation to said other of the trunnions to prevent said removal of said other trunnion from the bearing means.

4. The structure according to claim 3 wherein the fastening member is a snap-fastening member, and the fastening attaching means includes grooves into which'a portion of the member is snap fastened.

5. The structure according to claim 1 wherein coaxial pivots support the blades in the base for rocking to open and closed positions, selectively, about the common axis of the trunnions;

each of said blades has a contact portion and a rotor engaging portion spaced therefrom circumferentially of the pivotal axis; and

spaced abutments for each blade are provided on the rotor,

and are engageable with said portions, respectively, each abutment with a different one of said portions, for drivingly connecting the rotor to the associated blade, so that all of the blades can be rocked concurrently by the rotor when the rotor is rocked in opposite directions, respectively.

6. The structure according to claim 1 wherein said base has a partition wall between, and spaced from, the front and rear of the base, said connectors are mounted on the front face of the partition wall;

pivot means having a common axis rearwardly of said partition wall support the blades in the base; and

said rotor and stationary contacts are mounted in the base at the rear of the partition wall.

7. The structure according to claim 1 wherein said base has a partition wall between, and spaced from, the front and rear of the base, said connectors are mounted on the front face of the partition wall and those of said connectors which are for the blades constitute load terminal connectors;

said blades, when in contact-making position, said rotor,

and said stationary contacts are mounted in the base so as to be rearwardly of the partition wall;

the load terminal connectors are fusible through the open front of the base; and

each load terminal connector includes a fuse clamp having a clamping portion in front of said partition wall and a rearwardly extending portion extending through an opening in the partition wall; and

coaxial pivots pivotally connect the blades to said rearwardly extending portions of the load terminal connectors, respectively.

8. The structure according to claim 7 wherein each fuse clamp comprises two spaced arms between portions of which forwardly of the partition wall the end portion of a fuse is receivable;

each arm has a rearwardly extending portion;

said rearwardly extending portions being spaced apart flatwise at a location at the rear of the partition wall; and

the associated blade is disposed between, and pivotally connected to, said rearwardly extending portions.

9. In an electric switch a lurality of stationary contacts; b ades for the contacts, respectively;

a base open at the front and rear and having a partition wall and in spaced relation between, and facing, the front and rear of the base, respectively;

a blade-operating rotor mounted in the base for rotation about an axis extending transversely of the base;

an operating handle connected to one end of the rotor and disposed exteriorly of the base alongside a sidewall thereof;

pivot means supporting the blades for rocking about a common axis;

the stationary contacts being spaced farther rearwardly of the base than said partition wall and opening forwardly of the base; and

said pivot means of the blades disposed rearwardly of the base from said partition wall so that the blades, in contact-closing position being disposed beyond said partition wall in a direction rearwardly of the base.

10. In an electric switch a plurality of stationary contacts;

blades for the contacts, respectively;

a base open at the front and rear and having a partition wall and in spaced relation between, and facing, the front and rear of the base, respectively;

a blade-operating rotor mounted in the base for rotation about an axis extending transversely of the base;

an operating handle connected to one end of the rotor and disposed exteriorly of the base alongside a sidewall thereof;

pivot means supporting the blades for rocking about a common axis;

each blade having a contact portion, and having two abutment portions spaced circumferentially of the pivotal axis from each other;

said rotor having sets of abutment portions for the blades,

respectively; and

each set including two abutment portions spaced apart from each other, respectively, circumferentially of the axis of the rotors so that each abutment portion of a set engages a different one of the abutment portions of the associated blade. 

1. In an electric switch, a base; a plurality of contact making and breaking units carried thereby; each unit including a stationary contact, a complementary switch blade, and connectors for the contact and blade, respectively; said base being open at the front and the connectors being accessible through said open front for connection to conductors; said base being open at the rear and adapted for connection to a supporting wall with the wall in closing relation to said rear; a blade-operating rotor receivable into the base through said open rear and having coaxial trunnions at its opposite ends; said base having a bearing socket opening inwardly transversely of the base and rotatably supporting one of the trunnions; said base having a sidewall spaced from said socket and having a notch therein; bearing means on said wall and including a bearing passage; said notch and passage extending laterally of the sidewall entirely through the sidewall from the interior of the base to the exterior thereof; said notch extending from the bearing passage rearwardly of the base and being open through the rear edge of the sidewall and affording access of the other trunnion to said bearing passage upon movement of said other trunnion generally forwardly of the base in the notch when said one trunnion is in said bearing socket; said bearing means rotatably supporting the other of said trunnions in coaxial relation with said one trunnion; an operating handle connected to said other of the trunnions and having a hub coaxial therewith, said handle disposed exteriorly of, and alongside, said sidewall; and means drivingly connecting the blades of all said units and the rotor for movement of the blades to open and closed positions, respectively, concurrently, upon rocking of the rotor in opposite directions, respectively, to predetermined positions.
 2. The structure according to claim 1 wherein said rotor has a radial flange positioned within the base and of a radial extent to lie close to the rear of the base so as to engage a supporting wall closing said rear of the base thereby preventing removal of said other trunnion from the bearing means when the supporting wall is in place.
 3. The structure according to claim 1 wherein a fastening member is provided, attaching means on the exterior of the wall detachably engage the fastening member and hold it in bridging relation to the notch in rearwardly spaced relation to the bearing means, and in constraining relation to said other of the trunnions to prevent said removal of said other trunnion from the bearing means.
 4. The structure according to claim 3 wherein the fastening member is a snap-fastening member, and the fastening attaching means includes grooves into which a portion of the member is snap fastened.
 5. The structure according to claim 1 wherein coaxial pivots support the blades in the base for rocking to open and closed positions, selectively, about the common axis of the trunnions; each of said blades has a contact portion and a rotor engaging portion spaced therefrom circumferentially of the pivotal axis; and spaced abutments for each blade are provided on the rotor, and are engageable with said portions, respectively, each abutment with a different one of said portions, for drivingly connecting the rotor to the associated blade, so that all of the blades can be rocked concurrently by the rotor when the rotor is rocked in opposite directions, respectively.
 6. The structure according to claim 1 wherein said base has a partition wall bEtween, and spaced from, the front and rear of the base, said connectors are mounted on the front face of the partition wall; pivot means having a common axis rearwardly of said partition wall support the blades in the base; and said rotor and stationary contacts are mounted in the base at the rear of the partition wall.
 7. The structure according to claim 1 wherein said base has a partition wall between, and spaced from, the front and rear of the base, said connectors are mounted on the front face of the partition wall and those of said connectors which are for the blades constitute load terminal connectors; said blades, when in contact-making position, said rotor, and said stationary contacts are mounted in the base so as to be rearwardly of the partition wall; the load terminal connectors are fusible through the open front of the base; and each load terminal connector includes a fuse clamp having a clamping portion in front of said partition wall and a rearwardly extending portion extending through an opening in the partition wall; and coaxial pivots pivotally connect the blades to said rearwardly extending portions of the load terminal connectors, respectively.
 8. The structure according to claim 7 wherein each fuse clamp comprises two spaced arms between portions of which forwardly of the partition wall the end portion of a fuse is receivable; each arm has a rearwardly extending portion; said rearwardly extending portions being spaced apart flatwise at a location at the rear of the partition wall; and the associated blade is disposed between, and pivotally connected to, said rearwardly extending portions.
 9. In an electric switch a plurality of stationary contacts; blades for the contacts, respectively; a base open at the front and rear and having a partition wall and in spaced relation between, and facing, the front and rear of the base, respectively; a blade-operating rotor mounted in the base for rotation about an axis extending transversely of the base; an operating handle connected to one end of the rotor and disposed exteriorly of the base alongside a sidewall thereof; pivot means supporting the blades for rocking about a common axis; the stationary contacts being spaced farther rearwardly of the base than said partition wall and opening forwardly of the base; and said pivot means of the blades disposed rearwardly of the base from said partition wall so that the blades, in contact-closing position being disposed beyond said partition wall in a direction rearwardly of the base.
 10. In an electric switch a plurality of stationary contacts; blades for the contacts, respectively; a base open at the front and rear and having a partition wall and in spaced relation between, and facing, the front and rear of the base, respectively; a blade-operating rotor mounted in the base for rotation about an axis extending transversely of the base; an operating handle connected to one end of the rotor and disposed exteriorly of the base alongside a sidewall thereof; pivot means supporting the blades for rocking about a common axis; each blade having a contact portion, and having two abutment portions spaced circumferentially of the pivotal axis from each other; said rotor having sets of abutment portions for the blades, respectively; and each set including two abutment portions spaced apart from each other, respectively, circumferentially of the axis of the rotors so that each abutment portion of a set engages a different one of the abutment portions of the associated blade. 